Wildlife Heroes

Story from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

Pupils at Bredon Hill Academy, Ashton-under-Hill, helped launch Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s hunt for Wildlife Heroes as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. The trust is looking to recognise and celebrate how people have helped to protect and conserve wildlife in Worcestershire during the past 50 years. Whether individual or group, community, business or school, anyone who has done their bit for wildlife is eligible for nomination.

Rae Howard-Louvaine, senior engagement officer for the trust, explained: “We’ve been protecting wildlife and wild places across Worcestershire for the past 50 years but we’d now like to celebrate the work that others have been doing to help wildlife at home and in their local communities,” At Bredon Hill Academy, the garden and the wildlife it attracts has been a feature of school life for some years. Staff and pupils applied for a grant from the Tesco ‘bags of help’ scheme to renovate the pond and garden and now, thanks to the hard work of pupils, villagers and an Environment Agency work party, the pond is full of water and aquatic life. Logs have been installed to provide seating for an entire class to have lessons outside, houses have been provided to birds, bats, bugs, bees and hedgehogs, while wildlife cameras and bird hides enable students to monitor the wildlife and they share their results with the rest of the school and local community.

Sara Bankes, eco coordinator for Bredon Hill Academy, said: We see a lot of wildlife in our school grounds and improving the area for wildlife has also made a huge difference for our staff and pupils. “The area is used as a learning resource for many subjects and pupils enjoy the the peace and tranquillity at lunchtime whereas the maintenance of the area promotes physical activity and improves wellbeing.” She added: “We’re delighted to be nominated as Wildlife Heroes and look forward to sharing our wildlife with the local community and visitors from further afield at our village Open Gardens on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10.”

Bredon Hill Academy was nominated by the trust along with Peter Bugg, of Fladbury, who has led a group of local residents to restore and manage a small, neglected orchard on the edge of the village. He has organised work parties, organised community days and visits from the village school. He also volunteers for Vale Landscape Heritage Trust and leads the Parish Green Charter Group that brings environmental issues to the attention of the parish council.

Nominations can be made online at worcswildklifetrust.co.uk/wildlifeheroes or via a form available at 01905 754919 or rae@worcestershirewildlifetrust.org